Locals still feel Gulf oil spill impact 3 years later

It's a day many Gulf Coast residents will never forget. The worst oil spill in U.S. history began unfolding three years ago in the Gulf of Mexico. The Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded, killing 11 people on April 20, 2010.

The government said almost 5 million barrels of oil leaked into the gulf before BP was able to plug the gushing well. Plaquemines Parish saw much of that oil, more than any other parish or county. Local leaders are continuing the fight to make things right.

In the weeks and months following the Gulf oil spill, Gayle Lawrence said she felt confined to her home.

“Now we can go out to the Gulf and to Lafitte, but before that we were limited on where we could go and where we could fish," Lawrence said.

Unlike the hurricanes Gulf Coast residents are accustomed to, no one had prepared for a disaster like this.

"You know they're coming and it's up to decide whether you're going to stay or whether you're going to go, but with the oil spill we didn't really have a warning, it just happened," Lawrence said.

Yet she believes BP has done its best to respond to the tragedy.

"It was an accident and accidents happen," she said. "I can't say that this is something that they deliberately did. It's not. I feel sorry for BP, and I think they're trying the best they can."

Plaquemines Parish President Billy Nungesser sees things differently. He believes BP has failed to take responsibility for the disaster or help restore the region.

"It's almost an embarrassment that they continue to run these commercials that everything is great," he said. "It has gotten better, the seafood is good, tourism is back, but it's not finished and they need to finish the job and restore this coastline."

Nungesser said 30 percent of the oil came ashore in Plaquemines, and 44,000 acres were heavily oiled.

"There's a lot of oil still out there. Is it recoverable? Probably not, but it's still affecting the wildlife and the marshes in those isolated areas where we saw heavy oil during the spill," he said.

Nungesser said the native pelicans are being forced to move further inland, which is putting the population at risk. Though many fishing areas are back, the Bay Jimmie oyster beds are still closed. He estimates some islands will no longer exist by next year.

"That's why we're hoping BP will do the right thing and step up and pay the claims and settle all the disputes, so we can take that money and start rebuilding those islands and those areas that most affect and stabilize the shoreline," he said.

On Wednesday, the first phase of the trial to determine blame for the spill ended. A federal judge didn't rule on any claims after BP wrapped its defense. The first phase was intended to identify what caused the well to blow and assign fault to the companies. The second phase of the trial is expected to begin in September.

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